The Wolves in the Walls

The Wolves in the Walls
Author Neil Gaiman
Illustrator Dave McKean
Country United States
Language English
Genre Children's
Publisher HarperCollins
Publication date
 5 August 2003
Media type Hardcover
Pages 56
ISBN ISBN 0-380-97827-X

The Wolves in the Walls is a book by Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean, published in 2003 in the United States by HarperCollins, and in the United Kingdom by Bloomsbury. The book was highly praised on release, winning three awards for that year. In 2006 it was made into a musical which toured the UK and visited the US in 2007.[1]

Neil Gaiman has said the story was inspired by a nightmare his daughter Maddy, then aged 4, had that there were wolves in the walls.[1][2] In the story the protagonist, Lucy, hears wolves in the walls of her family's house, but her family does not believe her until one day when the wolves come out of the walls.[2] The book is notable for Dave McKean's art, which utilises many different techniques, including photography, computer-generated imagery and drawing to achieve its effect.[3]

It is also available in Spanish,[4][5]German[6] and Italian.[7]

Reception

The book was very well received, with positive reviews for both the text and art.[3][8][9][10] It won awards for the New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book (2003),[11] the IRA/CBC Children's Choice (2004) award[12] and the British Science Fiction Association award for Short Fiction (2003).[13]

Stage adaptation

In 2006 The Wolves in the Walls was adapted for stage, as a "Musical Pandemonium" (a musical for children) of the same name, with music by Nick Powell to which Neil Gaiman contributed some lyrics. It was co-produced by the National Theatre of Scotland and Improbable theatre,[1][14] and premiered at the Tramway in Glasgow in March 2006,[15][16] before touring the UK for the rest of the year, winning TMA Best Show for Children and Young People for 2006.[17] In October 2007 it was staged in New York, off Broadway at the New Victory Theater, for a two-week run.[18][19][20] The production was very well received.[21][22]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Rees, Jasper (25 March 2006). "A nightmare theatrical debut – Times Online". The Times (London). Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "The Wolves in the Walls – Description Details". Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Review – The Wolves in the Walls – Art and Photography". Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  4. ↑ "Wolves in the Walls". Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  5. ↑ Los lobos de la pared. ISBN 1-59497-222-2.
  6. ↑ Die Wölfe in den Wänden. ISBN 3-551-51648-0.
  7. ↑ I lupi nei muri. ISBN 88-04-52288-7.
  8. ↑ "Review: Wolves in the Walls by Neil Gaiman". Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  9. ↑ "Kidsreads.com – THE WOLVES IN THE WALLS by Neil Gaiman". Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  10. ↑ "Neil Gaiman (writer) and Dave McKean (artist), The Wolves in the Walls". Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  11. ↑ "Book awards: New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book". Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  12. ↑ "Children's Choices for 2004". doi:10.1598/RT.58.2.7. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  13. ↑ "BSFA Awards: Past Awards". Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  14. ↑ "Improbable Show – The Wolves in the Walls". Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  15. ↑ "The Wolves in the Walls – Times Online". The Times (London). 31 March 2006. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  16. ↑ Gardner, Lyn (31 March 2006). "The Wolves in the Walls, Tramway, Glasgow – Stage – The Guardian". London. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  17. ↑ "Theatre Awards Winners 2006". Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  18. ↑ "The Wolves in the Walls – Showtimes". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  19. ↑ "The Wolves in the Walls – Show details". Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  20. ↑ "National Theatre of Scotland – The Wolves in the Walls". Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  21. ↑ Thielman, Sam (9 October 2007). "The Wolves in the Walls – Variety review". Retrieved 6 February 2010.
  22. ↑ Van Gelder, Lawrence (12 October 2007). "The Wolves in the Walls – New York Times review". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 February 2010.

External links